A brace from Peter Baah fired Fulham to a local derby win over Barnet at Underhill this evening.
The Whites eased to a comfortable victory with Baah, previously the unfair target of criticism from the Craven Cottage faithful, going a long way to silencing his critics with an outstanding individual display. The midfielder gave Don Mackay’s men the perfect start after just five minutes when he scored at the second attempt after racing ahead of Martin Ferney to fire Fulham in front.
Barnet threatened sporadically with Jim Stannard using all of his agility to tip over a curling cross from Brian Marwood midway through the first half before Carl Hoddle saw an effort bravely blocked by Glen Thomas. Stannard superbly saved from Marwood at his near post before Baah popped up to head home his second of the night five minutes before half time after the home defence had failed to clear Julian Hails’ ball in.
Fulham were in total command in the second period, but their attempts to score further goals were thwarted by a pair of excellent Phillips saves to deny Hails and Ferney. Baah failed to complete his hat-trick when he saw his shot cleared off the line, but the midfielder’s earlier two strikes rendered that late miss academic as the Whites picked up an important three points.
BARNET: Phillips; Alexander, Walker, G. Cooper, Hall (Affor 60), Wilson, Hoddle, Marwood; Close (Barnett 71), Haag, Evans.
FULHAM: Stannard; Morgan, Pike, Ferney, Marshall, G. Thomas, Hails, Onwere, Eckhardt, Brazil, Baah. Subs (not used): Harrison, Angus, Farrell.
BOOKED: Onwere.
GOALS: Baah (6, 40).
REFEREE: Gary Willard (Sussex).
ATTENDANCE: 3,066.
